WINNER of the 2010 Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards Guitarist of the Year!

THE BAND

Rob Tardik

Gutarist, Composer, Arranger, Recording & Performing Artist
Instrument: Electric, Acoustic/Flamenco, Nylon Guitars

Rob often performs with other very talented professional musicians in various ensembles such as duets, trios or a full band. The following pros are Rob’s band mates, collaborators and accomplished musicians in their own right. Many have performed on Rob’s latest CD: "The Right Time".

Bio
Carson Freeman

Saxophonist, Wind Instrumentalist
Instrument: Alto, Tenor, Soprano Saxophones, Flute
Played on The Right Time

Bio: A fresh voice on the music scene has been applauded in print, on television & radio, and in live performance. An exciting woodwind instrumentalist in the Greater Toronto Area (G.T.A.), Carson Freeman is a first call player for music requiring saxophones, flute, clarinet, and occasionally EWI (Electronic Wind Instrument). Born in Espanola Ontario, Carson moved to Toronto in 1995 to study with saxophonist Pat Labarbera at Humber College (fall 95- spring 98) on a tuition scholarship. Now a Mississauga, Ontario resident, Carson has become notorious in the G.T.A, performing as a sideman, and as the leader of a self titled modern jazz ensemble, and the acclaimed soul band Brothers 2 Soul.

Carson has had the privilege to share the stage with a variety of talented musicians including; Diana Krall, Mary Wilson (the Supremes), the Nylons, the legendary Motown Funk Brothers, jazz trumpeter Randy Brecker, jazz pianist Oliver Jones, and singer/pianist Carol Welsman. In 2008, as a member of the Marshall Dane Band, Carson was a co-recipient of the "Best Live Band" award at the Toronto Independent Music Awards (TIMA’s). First nominated in 2009, Carson won the title of Wind Instrumentalist of the Year for the 2010 Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards held 0n April 23rd 2010 at the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga, Ontario.

Recently showcased on guitarist Rob Tardik’s CD The Right Time, Carson’s playing has been described by reviewers as: "Billowing", "Soothing", and "Sanborn-esque!" Showcasing an eclectic modern approach, with a foot steeped in tradition, Carson Freeman’s personalized sound pushes the saxophone into new uncharted territories.
Davor Jordanovski

Composer/Arranger/Producer/Keyboard Player
Instrument: Piano, Keyboards, Hammond
Web: www.davorius.com
Played on, co-engineered, co-produced The Right Time

Bio: Davor began his career as a professional musician in Macedonia while still a high school student. Later on, during studies at the Faculty of Music Arts at the University of ‘Sts Kiril i Metodij’ in Skopje, Macedonia; he worked as keyboard player for the Big Band Orchestra of the Macedonian National TV station; as well as Composing, Arranging and Producing some of the biggest music acts in the country. Nominated for best arranger for the year 1999 and receiving numerous awards on local festivals and competitions trough the years, Davor had the honour to represent his country at the Eurovision song contest as the arranger of the Macedonian entry for the year 2000 in Stockholm, Sweden. The same year he moves to Toronto, Canada where he graduates from TREBAS Institute and establishes his label Davorius Productions - www.davorius.com and Big Bang Music Recording Studios - www.bigbangmrs.com. He is also the co-founder of MDR Music along side with his fellow musicians Miki Petkovski and Rob Tardik – www.mdrmusic.ca

Recent project/credits:
  • Keyboards for Shania Twain’s 2009 CD release: The First Time ... for the Last Time
  • Arranger, Producer, Sound Engineer for 2007 Aboriginal Peoples Choice Award Nominee in the Categories of: Best Rock Album, Best Video and Best Male Singer for the album Goddess Mira by Eye of Charm
  • Music Composer, Sound Mixer and Sound Designer for the winner of Montreal Film Festival 2004 Best Director in the student category, a Suzana Dinevski Documentary Film – "The Children of 1948"
  • Music Composer, Sound Mixer for OMNI TV’s documentary film:The Late Bloomer – Ed Jovanovski (NHL Hockey Star)
  • Producer/Arranger for MTV TOP5 - World Chart Express MTV Adria’s top 20 single titled Red Rain performed by Dani
Solo Projects:
2006 - Roadless Journey
2003 - Hypnotic and Enticing
Curtis Freeman

Bassist
Instrument: Bass Guitar
Played on The Right Time

Bio: Curtis Freeman plays bass guitar and piano and sings professionally. He has been playing music working in the music industry for more than a decade. Curtis attended Humber College in Toronto on a full tuition scholarship, where he studied Composition, Arranging and Performance. Curtis graduated top of his class with a double major in Performance and Arranging. Upon graduation Curtis received a scholarship from the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS). Since College, Curtis has been recording, touring and performing all over the world with several bands and has played in over forty countries.

In 2008, Curtis band Rock the Boat, performed on the inaugural cruise of the largest cruise ship in the world, Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas. Curtis is currently busy with the Beatlemaniacs, Canada's most successful Beatles tribute. Curtis is playing the role of Sir Paul McCartney, playing bass, guitar, piano and singing. Curtis has recorded on several CD's. The most recent of these is guitarist Rob Tardik's new release 'The Right Time' which is being well received and is getting generous reviews and airplay.
Jeff Salem

Drummer, Percussionist, Educator
Instrument: Drums, Percussion
Played on The Right Time

Bio: Jeff Salem started out performing with several local rock, jazz, latin, country and tribute acts throughout the Toronto area. This eventually led him to performing and recording with well known rock bands such as Fist (A&M), Sword (Aquarius), Saints & Sinners (Savage/BMG), Lee Aaron (Attic), Robin Ford, Randy Bachman as well as Blues artist Coop De Ville. He has also freelanced with many other artists throughout the U.S. Aside from the various recording artists, Jeff has performed on many cruise ships including Disney Cruise Lines as a player in the orchestra, show band as well as a band leader. Jeff is known to be a versatile drummer, performing and reading all styles of music. Jeff had the opportunity to perform on a millennium cruise to Antarctica working with various artists including The Chieftains, Diana Krall, Natalie McMaster, Art Garfunkle and with the actor Dan Ackroyd. Jeff has most recently recorded drums on the debut CD for 2004 Canadian Idol winner Kalan Porter. Jeff keeps busy also recording many movie sound tracks for CBC’s National Film Board.

Jeff is currently involved in the Educational Seminars in Percussion program (ESP) sponsored Yamaha drums. It involves going into local schools and performing drum clinics for the percussion and other music students. During this time Jeff has become a great public speaker for percussion and music arts motivating music students where ever he goes. The program is designed to support music directors by motivating the students to either start or further their percussive studies. Jeff has performed at over 400 schools in the past 12 years.

In his clinics Jeff promotes his own educational series "TIPS” Total Integrated Percussion Studies with three popular videos: Groove a Diddles, Drumology Presents, and Double Bass Vocabulary-Volume One. Jeff has also released a new funk book titled “Messin Wid Da Bull” available through Hudson Music. Jeff has performed in over 60 countries as well as at many music trade shows including the NAMM show both in Anaheim, CA and Nashville, TN., the Musicmesse in Frankfurt, Germany, Music West in Vancouver, BC, Cape Breton International Drumfest in Sydney Nova Scotia Guitar Workshop Plus in Oakville, ON and Canadian Music Week in Toronto, ON. Jeff Salem is a freelance writer for the magazines Canadian Musician and Modern Drummer. He also maintains a large roster of students for private instruction at teaching studio in Brampton, ON called TIPS (Total Integrated Percussion Studies) Visit his website for more info. www.salemdrum.com
Lorne Hamilton

Guitarist
Instrument: Guitar

Bio: Born and raised in Montreal, Lorne has been playing guitar since the age of 14. His early influences were Roy Buchanan, Frank Marino and Walter Rossi , however it was in Toronto where the list grew to include Ernest Ranglin, Steve Cropper, Wes Montgomery and Lee Ritenour. He has enjoyed a varied career playing in Jazz bands, cover bands, solo projects and doing session work in the States. Currently involved in a number of projects, Lorne is thrilled to be a part of the Rob Tardik Band, laying down rhythm guitar in the style of the Funk Brothers, with a smile and positive energy.
"Life is all about Balance, Energy (the great positive kind), Laughter and Love... so let's all keep ringing that B.E.L.L. loud and clear!"
~ Rob Tardik